Although we are only midway through this semester, January will approach quicker than we expect, and with that comes the FAFSA. Mission Tuition covered how to fill out the FAFSA in the past, but this time we wanted to explain why filing it out online is a must. Here are the three reasons why filing your FAFSA electronically is better than by mail:
It’s Easier For Future Filings
When you file your FAFSA online, most of your information will be saved and accessible come the next year. Obviously the financial information such as that year’s income needs to be updated, but the basic information regarding you and your family gets pulled right up. If you don’t have all of the info in front of you, filing out the FAFSA can take a long time. However, when you have half of it saved from the previous year, the process speeds up considerably.
You Can Check Your Status At Any Time
Students who submit their FAFSA electronically will have the ability to check their status within 3-5 days after filing. Although this doesn’t guarantee that you will have an answer within that time, you can at least keep your eyes on it sooner than those who file by mail and have to wait up to a week before they can start tracking.
You’ll Get Money Quicker - Which Might Mean More Money
The people at FAFSA claim that it can be as many as 14 days faster when you file electronically versus filing through mail. Although that doesn’t seem like a huge difference, when millions of students are all fighting to get a piece of the same pool of money, first come first serve could mean a big difference in the check uncle Sam gives you. Getting your forms in as close to January 1st and via online submission will increase your chances of getting more aid.
